Wei Ying hugged him tightly one more time before letting this small child go. Really, he had been thinking of ways not to do this, to give the child any excuse, or many different ones, just so they would not have to go through with this.

But even as he looked into those beautiful golden eyes, filled with trust, he knew he could not lie to him. Lan Zhan's trust was a precious gift, and no hell would be deep enough nor hot enough for his wretched soul were he to abuse that, or throw it away like it meant nothing.

This baby, this child full of pure innocence, was someone to be treasured, no matter his age, and Wei Ying was well aware of what he was asking for.

"Give me your hand." He wanted to cry when Lan Zhan put his pudgy hand, still with dimples where his knuckles would stand out later, straight away in Wei Ying's much bigger one. "Are you sure you still want to go?"

"Mn."

"We could get into a lot of trouble."

"But mother is there." If anything, those golden eyes burned even fiercer than ever, full of determination.

"Alright." Wei Ying made his mind up. "But you have to listen to me."

"Mn." Lan Zhan steeled himself, his little body standing straighter, even more serious than before. "Will listen. Trust Wei Ying."

This little kid was going to kill him.

Wei Ying wanted to shout at the world, at the Universe, that why did this little guy have to go through all that pain, all that misery, all by himself? If it was up to Wei Ying, he would lock him inside a room and protect him from the cruelty of the world. Hide him away where nothing would or could mar his beautiful purity.

Wei Ying swallowed hard, trying to get past the thick, choking knot in his throat, the tightening in his chest, these feelings that had been dammed away like a reservoir, the flood gates opened so everything came crashing out.

For so long, he had tried to cut himself away, away from what he had to do, away from the hurt everyone had caused him, in spite of his own innocent motives. It was better not to feel anything, he had thought, and hoped, but alas! It was not to be.

By holding back on his feeling, he had only made them worse, like starving wild dogs until they became rabid.

His sorrow at Lan Zhan's plight was gradually replaced with anger.

Why should he have to suffer?

Who said that was okay?

Why take his mother away, when it was so obvious that Lan Zhan still needed her?

The world was a cruel place, a heartless mistress with no loyalties for redemption, but Wei Ying was going to protect this little boy.

This sweet child would be fine, because Wei Ying would make sure of it.

While all of these thoughts were going through his head, Lan Zhan was watching him.

Wei Ying was beautiful, like all angels should be, but he had a stark honesty, a quality that was more real than the snow in wintertime. Lan Zhan did not know why he trusted him, for this was only his second time meeting this stranger, but he was sure he could trust him.

Wei Ying had come back when he had promised, and that went a long way towards it, but there was something in his silver eyes which spoke to Lan Zhan on another level, a unity of souls. Wei Ying had suffered, and Lan Zhan sensed it.

That togetherness gave Lan Zhan hope, that he could be as strong as Wei Ying was right now, that the pain he was feeling at not seeing his mother, would be over soon, that it would not last forever. He was giving his own heart an assuaging, giving it encouragement that whatever it felt now wasn't permanent, because look at Wei Ying.

He had no idea what Wei Ying had gone through, but he felt its poignancy in his own heart, and he wished to make it better. With his free hand and his soft thumb, small and caring, he wiped under Wei Ying's eyes, drying his tears.

Wei Ying was completely undone.

But he battled against the tumultuous thoughts raging in his head, the need to protect stronger than the need for release, to let go of his control. The kid would be frightened, and that thought alone kept his sanity intact.

"Alright." His voice came out rougher, coarser. "I don't know exactly where her soul is. And that's another thing. How will you know it's her?"

"Will know mother anywhere."

His conviction was hard to argue against.

So Wei Ying simply nodded.

"You're gonna have to be brave."

"Mn. Will be brave for Wei Ying." He nodded back, completely serious.

Wei Ying wanted to squish his pudgy cheeks, poke them like rising dough. But he stifled the urge. He knew he was procrastinating, but that's what happened when whenever he thought about breaking the rules.

"You might see things that you shouldn't...or that might scare you. If I tell you to shut your eyes, you shut your eyes. Am I clear?"

"Mn. Will listen to Wei Ying."

"Another thing, we can't take long. The more time we spend there, the more chance we'll be discovered, and that's a big no."

"Only need a little bit of time. Must see mother." That steely determination was back.

"Then this is the last thing. You cannot go in that body. Only your soul can travel to where we must go. And, you must prepare for the fact that we might have missed her, that we might not even get to talk to her. Is that...is that alright?" Above all, Wei Ying didn't want to hurt him any more, or let him be hurt more than he already was.

"Mn."

"Well, I guess that's it. I will preserve your body until you return." Wei Ying made him sit in a meditative position, something the child was already too comfortable doing.

That fact alone sent little pangs to his heart, that this baby knew how to meditate. For one so young, it was a difficult skill to attempt, especially when most kids of his age would be outside playing with their peers. That said more about his situation than anything else. Wei Ying was pretty sure this kid was lonely.

And perhaps that was the reason why he wanted to find his mother; if he wasn't close to many people or have many friends, any human connection would leave him reeling, wanting to preserve those feelings. So Wei Ying would do his best.

Wei Ying waited until the trusting Lan Zhan closed his eyes and began to breathe deeply. Slow and even, he waited until the boy was calmer, more in tune with himself.

Then he placed his warm palm upon the crown of Lan Zhan's head. Slowly, he pulled out Lan Zhan's Soul, a bright, warm light of energy, and then taking a tendril of that light, he wrapped it around his own wrist. He never attempted anything like this, but the best teacher was experience after all.

"So you don't get lost." He is explained.

The Soul could not talk, having no mouth to do it, but it could certainly feel, and Wei Ying felt relief first of all, coming from the child. Followed by the second emotion, trust. And there was a healthy dose of interest too.

Wei Ying waved a hand over Lan Zhan's body and a clear bubble, shimmering in the light of the clear moon, appeared, covering him completely. Wei Ying pulled a string no wider than a single hair from the bubble and tied it around Lan Zhan's other wrist.

"Even if we get separated, this is so you can find your way back. Don't take too long, because this," He waved in between Lan Zhan's body and his Soul, "Isn't permanent. I have no idea how long it lasts usually, this being the first time ever that I've done something like this."

Little Lan Zhan nodded.

Wei Ying took a deep breath and swirled his hand on the cold, hard, frozen ground. A white light appeared, faintly growing before getting stronger and he waited until it was big enough to fit them both, before slamming his palm into it's centre.

Immediately, they landed in another place.

Here, the sky was red, brighter than the inside of a Ruby. Everything was red, or shades of it, not only the sky but the shapes on the horizon, the weirdly shaped buildings and trees. Wei Ying began walking forward, leading Lan Zhan's Soul. They came to a huge cave with a barrier and Wei Ying tossed a talisman at it; the talisman shimmered and vanished with the ward that would have prevented their entrance.

Inside, there were many bright lights, different coloured Souls, some huddled together, some waiting separately.

Lan Zhan walked in front of him now, eager to find his mother.

They found her at the far end of the cave, sitting all alone.

She gave out waves of distress at seeing them, recognising Lan Zhan immediately.

"Do not worry, madam. Your son is safe. He wanted to see you, that's why we have come." Wei Ying reassured her quickly.

She calmed herself then and reached out towards her son.

For Lan Zhan, it was like being hugged again by his mother. He was filled with joy, with the love that only a mother can give. It chased away his sorrow, reminding him of happier times, when he had sat next to his mother quietly reading, while she knitted or painted. Just peaceful times of spending moments together.

Something inside him calmed, to see her as she was, the uncertainty of her fate having vanished like early morning fog. His mother was radiating happiness on another level, and it was contagious.

Her joy was so strong, she began affecting other souls, until the whole cave was vibrating with a positive energy. The pulses of her emotions began strengthening, and then, because her feelings were like irresistible pollen for bees, the other Souls began vibrating too.

Wei Ying could taste the change in the air, like the tang of an incoming storm.

Lan Zhan's happiness combined with the simple condensed joy of his mother began to shake the foundations upon which they were standing, this coupled with the positive emotions from all the other souls convoluted into something so powerful that the tremors were long lasting and irreversible.

The ground shook and the humming noise escalated, reaching a crescendo that had Wei Ying covering his ears and closed his eyes, and then, BAM!

Everything stopped.

Wei Ying opened his eyes to see the Lord and Master of The Universe standing before him.

Looking furious.

And it was aimed at him.

Oh no....

His heart sank at the implications of what was to come. Now that they had been caught, he had been caught, his only thoughts were for the safety of his charge, for Lan Zhan to return to his body safely, and then he could take any punishment that was forthcoming.

"Is that how you really feel?" The Lord and Master asked, his voice stern and commanding.

"Yes. He does not belong here, and I realise my mistake. If there is any leniency to be applied, I would wish for it to be directed at him. I promised him that his Soul would return to his body and I took measures to that effect." Wei Ying bowed low. "This one begs for mercy."

What none of them predicted was that little Lan Zhan's Soul to come and stand in front of Wei Ying.

His regret at what was happening was coming off from him in waves, his apology and his wish for nothing to happen to Wei Ying was as clear as day.

Wei Ying wanted to push him back towards his mother; after all, this would be the last time he would get to see her, as his mother. Even if she reincarnated, she would not be the same...and nor would he be.

But even when he tugged on their string, Lan Zhan didn't budge. Moreover, his Soul began to glow brighter.

"If you wish to save him, truly, little one, there is a way. Your family will help you." The Lord and Master smiled kindly at his Soul. "For now, you must leave. This is no place for untimely arrivals. The Angel of Death, whose fault this whole mess is, will escort you back to your home and your body, so that his promise will be kept. Then he will return to our realm where his punishment will begin."

"May he say one final goodbye to his mother?" Wei Ying begged.

Above all, he wished for Lan Zhan to have closure and to move on.

"Very well...but you are using up my goodwill towards you. Every second he remains in this place where he is not meant to be, yet, bodes ill. Destiny is a power not to be meddled with."

Wei Ying quickly bowed and picked up the Soul, pushing it towards his mother. He watched as she wrapped herself around him like a soothing blanket. Relief and a shadow of their former joy was felt before they separated.

"Go now." L&M told him.

Wei Ying dared not disobey; he closed his eyes and drew on the air in front of them as Lan Zhan's Soul watched. Within seconds, they had returned to Gusu, and there was Lan Zhan's body, perfectly preserved within the bubble.

Wei Ying helped him to return, waiting until those beautiful golden eyes opened to look at him.

Lan Zhan immediately stood up and threw his tiny arms around Wei Ying's neck, his little body trembling.

"Don't go back! I'm sorry for making you take me there!"

Wei Ying felt a warm trickling of water down his neck, and he hugged the little boy much tighter.

"You mustn't worry about me, little one. I will be alright. But how do you feel after your visit? Better I hope?"

Lan Zhan burst into tears, feeling terrible now. What a wonderful friend Wei Ying was, and he felt terrified on his behalf.

With every sob, every stuttering breath he took, Wei Ying's heart broke a little more.

"I promise you," He muttered, knowing full well that he was in no position to make any promises, "I will come and find you, to prove that I am alright."

But Lan Zhan was too far gone, and Wei Ying's words fell upon deaf ears.

This was no good...Wei Ying still had to return to the Lord and Master, and every second's delay would surely add to his Master's ire, for he was not a patient person. But how could he leave Lan Zhan like this?

Wei Ying rubbed his back, soothing circles that seemed to calm the little boy a bit. He waited until there was only sniffling, ignoring every tug on his heart.

"Lan Zhan...you are such a brave little boy. Promise me that you will become a strong cultivator, promise me that you will lead a good life? And I will come back to check on you, I promise you that."

Lan Zhan held out his pinkie finger.

Wei Ying looked at him blankly.

"Xiongzhang says this is a pinkie promise. Unbreakable."

"Really?" Wei Ying played along, wondering if this kid could get any more adorable. "What am I supposed to do?"

"Like this." Lan Zhan took his pinkie finger with his other hand, his pudgy little fingers manoeuvring them to link and then he made a heart from their thumbs. "Now you have to come back."

Wei Ying beamed at him, not wanting to leave yet. He pulled Lan Zhan closer hugging him once more.

He took those little shoulders in his hands and brought him closer, gently kissing his forehead.

"Be good, little one." He said, just as shouts were heard behind him.

"WANGJI! Where are you?"

"Xiongzhang." Lan Zhan told him.

Wei Ying was happy that Lan Zhan wouldn't be alone going back.

"Then I really must say goodbye." Wei Ying patted his head and stood up.

Lan Zhan ran forward and hugged his legs one last time before Wei Ying vanished.

But he came back when Lan Zhan turned around to meet his brother, just to make sure he was alright.

When the air was silent, bereft of any movement or quiet footsteps, when only the falling snow swirled around his face, Wei Ying sighed, tasting one, before returning to his world.

******

A/N

I could finish this here, but I can already hear the cries of "mean author!" From here..so don't worry, still a couple more parts left, maybe? I can never tell, hehe.

Happy Valentine's day to everyone, let's be kind.

And you're supposed to eat lots of chocolate today, I have an excuse...